William Shakespeare was an English playwright and poet born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He wrote famous plays and poems, often featuring themes of betrayal, murder, mystery, and romance. Shakespeare moved to London to pursue acting and writing, joining The Lord Chamberlain's Men theatrical troupe to perform for Queen Elizabeth I, who enjoyed his plays. His plays became hugely popular in London, performed at theaters like the Rose Theatre and Globe Theatre. Shakespeare's works were so influential that many common English phrases still in use today originated from his plays and poems.

1. Who was William
Shakespeare??
Listen and we will tell you!

2. The Life of William Shakespeare
 William Shakespeare was born on April 23rd
, 1564 in England.
 He had 4 brothers and sisters.
 He began to study when he was 5 years old
and studied many languages!
 When he grew up, he married a woman
named Anne Hathaway and they had 3
children.

3. But what was his job??
 William Shakespeare was a poet and a playwright!
 This means that he wrote beautiful poems and plays.
 Sometimes, his plays were very funny! But his most famous plays
are TRAGEDIES – this means that they are very sad!
 Some common themes are:
 Betrayal
 Murder
 Mystery
 Romance and Heartbreak

4. And where did he work?
 William Shakespeare couldn’t become famous in his small town, so
he moved to London with his wife and children!
 In London, he became an actor and a member of “The Lord
Chamberlain’s Men”.
 This was a group of actors that performed for the Queen!
 This is when Shakespeare began to write his most famous plays, so
that the Queen could enjoy them – and she did! She LOVED his
plays!

5. Where were the plays performed?
 Soon, William Shakespeare’s plays were so famous that the entire
city of London wanted to watch them!
 There were 2 theatres where his plays were performed – the Rose
Theatre and the Globe theatre. The Globe is the most famous!

6. Inside the Globe theatre

7. How important was Shakespeare?
 Shakespeare’s plays and poems were so popular that people began
to use his phrases and words in real life!
 Today, English speakers still use these phrases – sometimes they
don’t even know that it comes from Shakespeare!
 “I couldn’t sleep a wink”
 “He was as dead as a doornail”
 “It’s all Greek to me”
 “All that glitters is not gold”
 “Love is blind”